3 bodies spotted in location where climbers on Mount Rainier went missing earlier this summer

OLYMPIA, Wash. – National Park officials say what appears to be three bodies have been spotted on Mount Rainier in the spot where six climbers went missing earlier this summer.

Park spokeswoman Patti Wold told The Associated Press Tuesday that the bodies were seen during a helicopter flight last week. She says the park is trying to determine how best to recover them without endangering rescuers.

The two guides and four climbers are believed to have fallen 3,300 feet during their climb on the last week of May. It's unknown whether a rock fall or avalanche is to blame for the fall.

During the initial search, crews found gear and detected signals from avalanche beacons buried in the snow at the top of the Carbon Glacier at 9,500 feet.